The Giants’ run defense faces rookie Trent Richardson this week, which is good for them because he’s the type of back they usually do well against. Unlike the slippery cutters such as LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray who can make dizzying changes of direction and go back against the grain and have run for a combined 254 yards against them in two games, Richardson is more of a power back.

“I wouldn’t say he’s Adrian Peterson-like, but he’s strong,” defensive tackle Rocky Bernard said. “He doesn’t go down very much at first contact. Kind of like Marshawn Lynch, that type of guy. Keeps trying to get that extra yard.”

Richardson’s longest run of the year is 32 yards. He’s averaging 3.5 yards per carry. The Giants are allowing 4.5 yards per carry so far this season, mostly thanks to the shifty guys like McCoy and Murray. Richardson presents a different challenge, one the Giants seem better suited to stopping.

“Guys like that you have to get them stopped before they get going,” Bernard said. “Once they get going and they start getting that ground game pounding at you, it’s tough to stop. You have to lock that out early.”